This article has been updated with new information.
Jeopardy! has named two hosts going forward: Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik.
Richards will kick off Season 38 as the full-time host of Jeopardy!’s long-running daily syndicated program. Bialik joins as the host of Jeopardy!’s primetime and spinoff series, including the upcoming all-new Jeopardy! National College Championship set to air on ABC next year, as the studio looks to extend the Jeopardy! franchise to new platforms, according to a Sony press release.
Richards has come under fire as of late as reports of harassment and discrimination have resurfaced. Mayim Bialik is an acclaimed actress, author, host, and neuroscientist, well known for her award-winning role as Amy Farrah Fowler on the hit CBS comedy, The Big Bang Theory. Currently, Bialik is starring in Call Me Kat on Fox, which she also executive produces. Outside of the realm of television, she also is the host of the mental health podcast “Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown” and she recently wrote and directed her first feature film, As Sick As They Made Us, starring Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergen.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Jeopardy! family,” Bialik said. “What started out with my 15-year-old repeating a rumor from Instagram that I should guest host the show has turned into one of the most exciting and surreal opportunities of my life! I’m so grateful and excited to continue to work with Mike Richards, and I’m just over the moon to join forces with him and Sony. After all the conversations we’ve had about this partnership, I am just so ready to get started!”
Here at The Jeopardy! Fan, I was very worried that these spin-off formats would take the place of regular syndicated episodes. I’m very curious to see how a team format would play in a spin-off, as the National College Championship will appear to be (the show’s casting notices came in teams). That being said: I still don’t think that Mike Richards is at all a good choice going forward; there are many fans who perceive this to not have been set up fairly for their preferred candidate (especially LeVar Burton), and the reports of how Richards obtained a guest-host stint (by claiming that there was an emergency when none existed) serves as a massive dent to his credibility. Why can’t they just have Mayim Bialik host everything?
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OH NO!! I am very uncomfortable watching either of those. Clearly the best were Aaron Rodgers and Joe Buck. Both very capable and audience friendly. Did not get to see LeVar Burton as Jeopardy was not shown here during the Olympics. Well they’ve lost a true fan now.😥
Somebody shared a link on Reddit yesterday with a tabloid piece from last fall (so take it with a grain of salt) that the plan was to hire from within all along. The plans would’ve put Ken in the driver’s seat but I guess Richards came in and used his position to finesse his way to the top. The rotating hosts were all a ratings ploy. It’s complete speculation without sources, but several months later it looks to have been all but confirmed as truth.
https://blindgossip.com/three-doors-and-one-goat/
The primetime special split-hosting duties come completely out of left field. I know Alex can’t be replaced, but the show needs a single face. Terrible decision if true.
It’s official. He got the job anyway. After Joe Buck, I’m done with the show.
Maybe The Chase should be converted into a daily daytime show (like it is in UK) and Jeopardy can be put out of its misery. TPTB at J are evidently incapable of making even marginally competent decisions with this show in Alex+Harry’s absence. (And Sara Haines is at least a decent host+person.)
Because she’s an apologist for Richards’ conduct. If you have the ability behind the paywall, read Bialik’s 2014 discussion on her relationship with being an actress in the world of Weinstein.
They just took a bad situation and just made it FAR WORSE.
Even though I don’t care for the choice of host, I will continue to watch my favorite game show. People have short memories. When Alex started hosting, he was terribly flawed. He grew into the role. Lets give MR a shot.
Moreover, the beauty of the game is the challenge and how the contestants react and play. I simply don’t understand refusing to watch a show you supposedly love because of the host. Its a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Quite the cherry-picking in your descriptions of the CVs of Richards and Bialik, Andy.
It is your right to select those details in that manner. And of course, it’s not particularly revealing of anything; you’ve made your opinions increasingly explicitly clear as this season has progressed. But make no mistake — TJ!F is now basically an “opposition publication.”
Just about a total 180° from previous seasons, when it was often charged that this site was either affiliated with the show or, at a minimum, carrying water for it.
That said, so long as the high quality of coverage of the game remains available, I’ll continue to support TJ!F as both a reader and a patron.
#sad
that’s all there is to say
I might watch the primetime shows with Mayim. Otherwise I’m done with the show after this week.
Boo! Hiss! I’ll vote with my remote
I would have preferred they reversed the roles, as Mayim was my favorite, nevertheless I have no problem with Mike.